The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1887-10-20
srsassa--~ - - -
The St Lawrenee and the Rio Grande

others who were served almost as pauiY
was
The St Lawrenoe and the Rio Grands
| cannot get ca rapport with these fisher
folks. always like to minsle With th'
people OF the oonntry am visiting. Ii
my youth was told that / should do a
Rome, as the Romans do, and | usual,
try to DO SO; but should / make the at
tempt here, / would have TO saturate my
self in goldfish. talk goldfish. eat Goldfish
smell Of goldfish, aud sing God Save thi
the Qneen" on the slightest provocation
50 know could never be anything bu'
a ienderfoot here Now il was different iu
Texas. When went there ! got "accli-
mated before l was in the state two days.
One could conform to habits. customs, and
surroundings there without affecting ones
physical comfort or knocking the hoops OF
ones conscience. / don't think ever
told You about how became Texan in
two minutes.
WELL this wonld be abont as good a
time as any other to tell it. would much
rather write about Texas than about this
ragged and hungry looking country. !
wish was on the back OF mustang now,
out on the western plains, instead OF sit
ting here on this hard rock on 'foreign
stmad,
When first went to Texas was ac-
companied by an obtrusive English accent
and pair Of speckled trousers that iuyit-
ed harsh criticism. Ii was at place call.
ei Columbus that made my debut as a
tenderfoot Besides my accent and the os.
tentatious trousers, carried with me a
very high estimate of myself, aud ! con-
sidered it to be my duty as a subject OF
Victoria Del Gratia, to let the hordes
OF Texas barbarians know that | was a per
son OF importance.
At Columbus wanted to buy horse, as
il was my intention to ride from that place
to the Rio Grande. While sitting on the
veranda OF the little wooden hotel, drop
ped my naughty patrician reserve for q
time and conversed with number Of cow
boys, who were stopping at the place. |
did not hesitate to express my contempt
for the Texan horses had seen. made
facetious remarks regarding the ungrace-
ful manner in which Texans rode, and
was sarcastic in the matter Of the Texas
saddle. In Texas fools sometimes rush in
where desperadoes fear to tread.
Tie cowboys oshod me what was tho
best way to ride, and what kind OF horses
did we have in my country l told them
that | rode with long stirrup. related
exploits wherein | figured as winning
steeplechase across stiff country in the
west of Ireland, and / told Of some horses
| had owned phenomenal horses, with
pedigrees running away back into the
dark ages. Even to this day, whenever
think OF what an ass demonstrated my
self to be on that occasion, make an ei-
fort to blush.
The cowboys seemed to take all said
good naturedly, and they made no com
ment The head cowboy, however, look
ed tired, and asked the others to take a
drink. He invited me to join them. When
Iat has I n ta1
a glass OF claret.
Jim, he says he'll take claret. Maybe
he'd like it 10 a silver goblet, with straw.
berry or an oyster in 1t, as he's accustom.
ed to in bis ancestral castle at home. Oh,
he's daisy, ! tell you. Barkeeper, the
tenderioot'll take some wbiskey same as
the rest Of US. reckon that's what he'll
tuke."
still, small voice within me whisper
ed that wbiskey was, under the circum
stances, the thing for me to take, and
took it.
"Want to buy horse, you say, eh r.
Yes" | replied, II want good, steady
n)rse."
"Oh, no, you want bucking broncho,
that's what you wapt.
what is backing broncho ?"
"Dont know, eh :"
"No."
"rhen that's eek zactly what you want.
Amt it boys y
Chorus OF boys --"You bet your sweet
lie.
The result was that the chief pirate sold
ne dismal looking plug, saddle and
Dridle for $50. When | got ready to
cave, the boys we're all standing around
o see me off Sarcastic remarks were
made about me being 'steepechaser
rom way back, and the crowd was re-
Inestei to give me room TO spread myself
got into the saddle and was gathering
ip the reins, when the wretched parody
u horse arose IN air, bent his back like
bow. and came down again with all bis
our feet 10 bunch nader his centre VI
,rayity. ! did not at that moment seem
o have any centre Of gravity Of my own.
rri was vague idea 10 my brains that
i,e eAlth 10 its diurnal whirl had slipped
cjs,or 10 its Wild climb around the sun
"a stamped It's toe. These thoughts
we're simultaneous with the sensation OF
,sins nit With something. knew in a